Northern Virginia is a major business and residential area. About forty miles west of DC, however, small cottage industries raise sheep and offer hand spun yarn Loudoun County style. If you like supporting the arts and buying regional products, you should get to know a shepherd.
Most people who didn't inherit a farm don't own a lot of land in expensive Loudoun. Sheep are perfect for small landowners, and they are small enough for the women who keep traditional home arts alive to handle. Sheep provide both meat and wool, to use on the place or sell. A flock grows quickly, since ewes usually have twins or even triplets. Sheep used to be called mortgage lifters because even a small flock could be profitable.
Now, however, the world's market is flooded with wool from Australia and New Zealand. Synthetic fibers have also become popular with people who like the easy-care nature of man-made and who may be allergic to wool. Selling wool as a commodity won't even pay for the shearing. Turning to direct sales of artisan wool has helped local shepherds stay in business.
Searching for the perfect yarn led local shepherds to bring in exotic breeds of sheep with great names like Lincoln, Leicester, Romney, Cotswold, and Icelandic. Many of these are heirloom breeds or even endangered ones. You may have noticed some exceptionally shaggy or strangely colored animals as you drive through the countryside.
Each breed has a characteristic fleece, and cross-breeding can emphasize the good points. A shepherd will know their particular fiber and select the small woolen mill that can give them roving (wool washed and combed and ready to spin) they can be proud of. Hand spun yarns are actually spun on a wheel, unlike the commercial brands. A good spinner has a lot of control over the yarn they produce; texture, twist, and diameter are some of the variables. A skillful spinner can produce an even twist unless they are exploring the potential for variation.
Local farmers like to say that their yarns are 'gently processed.' The fibers are never treated with harsh chemicals, unlike wool that is raised in Australia, processed with chemicals in China, and spun in Europe. In fact, they say that many people who believe themselves allergic to wool are really reacting to chemicals used in processing or as dyes.
Just like locally grown vegetables or meat, this handiwork has much more character than mass produced fibers. Each product is unique to the flock it comes from. The colors are often completely natural shades of white, grey, brown, black, and even variegated. Natural dyes are used for brighter colors.
Go online and get an overview of the county's sheep farms. You can order from the websites, but if you want a closer look, visit a farm and a farm store. In the charming village of Waterford, the Waterford Store is an outlet for the roving and yarns from a local flock of Lincoln/Corriedale sheep. In fact, you might even see the owner's spinning wheel in action.
Most people who didn't inherit a farm don't own a lot of land in expensive Loudoun. Sheep are perfect for small landowners, and they are small enough for the women who keep traditional home arts alive to handle. Sheep provide both meat and wool, to use on the place or sell. A flock grows quickly, since ewes usually have twins or even triplets. Sheep used to be called mortgage lifters because even a small flock could be profitable.
Now, however, the world's market is flooded with wool from Australia and New Zealand. Synthetic fibers have also become popular with people who like the easy-care nature of man-made and who may be allergic to wool. Selling wool as a commodity won't even pay for the shearing. Turning to direct sales of artisan wool has helped local shepherds stay in business.
Searching for the perfect yarn led local shepherds to bring in exotic breeds of sheep with great names like Lincoln, Leicester, Romney, Cotswold, and Icelandic. Many of these are heirloom breeds or even endangered ones. You may have noticed some exceptionally shaggy or strangely colored animals as you drive through the countryside.
Each breed has a characteristic fleece, and cross-breeding can emphasize the good points. A shepherd will know their particular fiber and select the small woolen mill that can give them roving (wool washed and combed and ready to spin) they can be proud of. Hand spun yarns are actually spun on a wheel, unlike the commercial brands. A good spinner has a lot of control over the yarn they produce; texture, twist, and diameter are some of the variables. A skillful spinner can produce an even twist unless they are exploring the potential for variation.
Local farmers like to say that their yarns are 'gently processed.' The fibers are never treated with harsh chemicals, unlike wool that is raised in Australia, processed with chemicals in China, and spun in Europe. In fact, they say that many people who believe themselves allergic to wool are really reacting to chemicals used in processing or as dyes.
Just like locally grown vegetables or meat, this handiwork has much more character than mass produced fibers. Each product is unique to the flock it comes from. The colors are often completely natural shades of white, grey, brown, black, and even variegated. Natural dyes are used for brighter colors.
Go online and get an overview of the county's sheep farms. You can order from the websites, but if you want a closer look, visit a farm and a farm store. In the charming village of Waterford, the Waterford Store is an outlet for the roving and yarns from a local flock of Lincoln/Corriedale sheep. In fact, you might even see the owner's spinning wheel in action.
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Find a summary of the benefits of using hand spun yarn Loudoun County shops sell and more info about a reputable yarn shop at http://rosecottagenva.com now.
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